God with Us (song)

"God with Us" was the first song written for MercyMe's album All That Is Within Me, as well as the song the band based the rest of the album around.{{cite web|url=http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=130|title="God With Us" by MercyMe|last=Davis|first=Kevin|date=22 May 2008|work=New Release Tuesday|access-date=14 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526120859/http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=130|archive-date=26 May 2008|url-status=live}} The song's lyrics were inspired by the question "Why does God look our way?", which the band's lead singer Bart Millard's pastor used to ask to his congregation.{{cite web|url=http://www.crosswalk.com:80/11620404/|title=MercyMe|date=24 November 2009|work=Crosswalk.com|publisher=Salem Web Network|access-date=13 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403075404/http://www.crosswalk.com/11620404/|archive-date=3 April 2012|url-status=dead}} Millard could not get this idea out of his head, and wanted to create a song around this idea. "God with Us" was designed for the church, as well as to be used in worship.

"God with Us" was written and composed by MercyMe.{{cite AV media notes|title=All That Is Within Me|others=MercyMe|year=2007|publisher=INO Records}} It was produced by Brown Bannister, and the strings on the song were recorded by the London Session Orchestra.

{{listen|title=God With Us|filename=God With Us.ogg|description=A 21-second audio sample of chorus from "God with Us".}}

"God With Us" is a worship song with a length of five minutes and 52 seconds.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/all-that-is-within-me-r1240329/review|title=All That Is Within Me - MercyMe (Review)|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=13 October 2011}} It is set in common time and in the key of B major, with a moderate tempo of 92 beats per minute, and a vocal range spanning from A₃–E₅.{{cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdVPE.asp?ppn=MN0060105|title=MercyMe - God With Us Sheet Music|publisher=Musicnotes.com|access-date=13 October 2011}}

Critical reception to "God With Us" was generally positive. Mike Parker of Today's Christian Music commented that ""God With Us", a superlative, six-minute marathon, may be the best cut on the album",{{cite web|url=http://www.todayschristianmusic.com/artists/mercyme/albums/all-that-is-within-me/|title=All That Is Within Me (Review)|last=Parker|first=Mike|work=Today's Christian Music|publisher=CCM Magazine|access-date=14 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330020928/http://www.todayschristianmusic.com/artists/mercyme/albums/all-that-is-within-me/|archive-date=30 March 2012|url-status=live}} also opining that "With plenty of time to sink its teeth into the song, the band delivers more emotion than on any tune since “I Can Only Imagine". Kevin McNeese of New Release Tuesday called the song a "worship-filled moment",{{cite web|url=http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/userprofile_reviewssinglepost.php?review_id=3756&user_id=49|title=All That Is Within Me (Collector's Edition - CD/DVD)|last=McNeese|first=Kevin|work=New Release Tuesday|access-date=14 October 2011}} while Jay Heilman of Christian Music Review opined that the song is "a reminder of how compassionate and loving the Lord is of us".{{cite web|url=http://www.christianmusicreview.org/mercyme_allthatiswithinme.html|title=MercyMe All That Is Within Me (2007)|last=Heilman|first=Jay|work=Christian Music Review|access-date=14 October 2011}}

"God With Us" debuted at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2007-10-27/christian-songs?order=gainer|title=Christian Songs Archive (27 October 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011}} It advanced to No. 13 in its second week,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2007-11-03/christian-songs?order=gainer|title=Christian Songs Archive (3 November 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011}} and to No. 8 in its third.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2007-11-10/christian-songs?order=position|title=Christian Songs Archive (10 November 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011}} In its fifth chart week, "God With Us" advanced to No. 4,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2007-11-24/christian-songs|title=Christian Songs Archive (24 November 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011}} a spot it held for an additional two weeks.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2007-12-01/christian-songs|title=Christian Songs Archive (1 December 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2007-12-08/christian-songs|title=Christian Songs Archive (8 December 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011}} In its ninth chart week, the song advanced to No. 1, a spot it held for three weeks before being supplanted by "East to West" by Casting Crowns.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2007-12-22/christian-songs|title=Christian Songs Archive (22 December 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2007-12-29/christian-songs|title=Christian Songs Archive (29 December 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-01-05/christian-songs|title=Christian Songs Archive (5 January 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011}} The song dropped to No. 2 in its 12th chart week and held that spot for three weeks{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-01-12/christian-songs|title=Christian Songs Archive (12 January 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-01-19/christian-songs|title=Christian Songs Archive (19 January 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-01-26/christian-songs|title=Christian Songs Archive (26 January 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011}} before advancing back into No. 1 and holding at that spot for five weeks.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-02-02/christian-songs|title=Christian Songs Archive (2 February 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-02-09/christian-songs|title=Christian Songs Archive (9 February 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-02-16/christian-songs|title=Christian Songs Archive (16 February 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-02-23/christian-songs|title=Christian Songs Archive (23 February 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-03-01/christian-songs|title=Christian Songs Archive (1 March 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011}} In its 20th chart week, "God With Us" fell to No. 2, removed from the top spot by Matthew West's "You Are Everything", and held that spot for three weeks.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/#/charts/christian-songs?chartDate=2008-02-08|title=Christian Songs Archive (8 March 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029202652/http://www.billboard.com/%23/artist/fergie/chart-history/542673#/charts/christian-songs?chartDate=2008-02-08|archive-date=29 October 2009|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-03-15/christian-songs|title=Christian Songs Archive (15 March 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-03-22/christian-songs|title=Christian Songs Archive (22 March 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-03-29/christian-songs|title=Christian Songs Archive (29 March 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011}} "God With Us" dropped out of the top five in its 29th chart week, falling to No. 6,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-05-10/christian-songs|title=Christian Songs Archive (10 May 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011}} and dropped out of the top 10 in its 35th chart week.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-06-21/christian-songs|title=Christian Songs Archive (21 June 2007)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011}} In all, "God With Us" spent a total of 38 weeks on the Hot Christian Songs chart,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/chart-search-results/1?orderBy=chartDate&orderType=a|title=God With Us (Billboard.biz)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805112439/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/chart-search-results/1?orderBy=chartDate&orderType=a|archive-date=5 August 2011|url-status=live}} eight of them at No. 1.

"God With Us" also peaked at No. 1 on the Hot Christian AC chart, and spent a total of 38 weeks on the chart.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/chart-search-results/1?orderBy=chartDate&orderType=a|title=God With Us (Hot Christian AC - Billboard.biz)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805112439/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/chart-search-results/1?orderBy=chartDate&orderType=a|archive-date=5 August 2011|url-status=live}} In Billboard's 2008 year-end charts, "God With Us" ranked at No. 3 on the Hot Christian Songs chart; only "You Are Everything" by Matthew West and "Call My Name" by Third Day ranked higher. Billboard also ranked the song at No. 4 on the year-end Hot Christian AC chart, with only "You Are Everything" by Matthew West, "Let It Fade" by Jeremy Camp, and "Call My Name" by Third Day ranking higher. The song ranked on Billboard's 2000s decade-end charts, at No. 12 on the Hot Christian AC chart and No. 19 on the Hot Christian Songs chart.

MercyMe has performed "God with Us" live on concert tours. At the concert which took place on 4 November 2011 at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the band performed "God with Us" as part of their setlist.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/11/rock_worship_road_show_inspire.html|title=Rock & Worship Road Show inspires audience to give|last=DeBoer|first=Terry|date=5 November 2011|work=The Grand Rapids Press|publisher=ml.com|access-date=11 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305141038/http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/11/rock_worship_road_show_inspire.html|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=live}} At a concert in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the band, dressed in suits designed around their then-upcoming album The Generous Mr. Lovewell, performed "God with Us" as the final song of their setlist.{{cite web|url=http://www.clashentertainment.com/music/5-music/1146-review-qrock-and-worship-road-showq|title=Review: "Rock and Worship Road Show"|last=Torquati|first=Francesca|date=26 March 2010|work=Clash Entertainment|publisher=Clash Entertainment Inc.|access-date=11 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111221171246/http://clashentertainment.com/music/5-music/1146-review-qrock-and-worship-road-showq|archive-date=21 December 2011|url-status=live}} At a concert in Huntsville, Alabama, MercyMe performed "God with Us" as part of their setlist.{{cite web|url=http://blog.al.com/entertainment-times/2011/01/8200_show_up_for_mercymes_road.html|title=8,200 show up for MercyMe's Rock and Worship Roadshow in Huntsville|work=The Huntsville Times|date=31 January 2011 |publisher=al.com|access-date=11 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306023441/http://blog.al.com/entertainment-times/2011/01/8200_show_up_for_mercymes_road.html|archive-date=6 March 2012|url-status=live}}

"God with Us" has been included in several compilation albums, such as WOW Hits 2009{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1426578|title=WOW Hits 2009 - Allmusic|last=Monger|first=James Christopher|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=11 December 2011}} and Wow #1s: 30 #1 Christian Hits!.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/wow-1s-yellow-r2129099|title=Wow #1s: 30 #1 Christian Hits! - Allmusic|last=Monger|first=James Christopher|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=11 December 2011}} MercyMe included both the song and a live version of the song on their 2009 compilation album 10.{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/10-deluxe-version/id334575445|title=iTunes - Music - 10 (Deluxe Edition) by MercyMe|publisher=iTunes Store|access-date=11 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822101640/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/10-deluxe-version/id334575445|archive-date=22 August 2016|url-status=dead}}

A music video was released for "God With Us".{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0evTbghu7Rk|title=MercyMe - God With Us (Music Video)|date=3 October 2009|via=YouTube|access-date=14 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310150213/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0evTbghu7Rk|archive-date=10 March 2016|url-status=live}} The video features MercyMe performing in a live setting.

Instrumental and composition adapted from Allmusic,{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/all-that-is-within-me-r1240329/credits|title=All That Is Within Me - MercyMe (Credits)|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=13 October 2011}} writing credits adapted from sheet music

• Bart Millard – lead vocals, writer, composer
• Jim Bryson – keyboards, piano, writer, composer
• Nathan Cochran – bass guitar, writer, composer
• Barry Graul – guitar, writer, composer
• Mike Scheuchzer – guitar, writer, composer
• Robby Shaffer – drums, writer, composer
• The London Session Orchestra - strings

Notes

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Footnotes

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{{MercyMe singles}}

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Category:MercyMe songs

Category:2007 singles

Category:2007 songs

Category:Songs written by Bart Millard

Category:Song recordings produced by Brown Bannister